IDC's second annual Top 5 Under 5 Awards highlights the talent of Canada's top emerging interior design professionals. The awards recognize five winners who are in the first five years of their careers, as selected by a panel of experienced interior designers. Presented in partnership with Knoll and Interface, this awards program is now in its second year.

Entries are accepted from IDC's Intern/Provisional members across the country - practitioners who have graduated from an accredited interior design program, and are gaining supervised work experience before writing their qualifying exams.

Judges Suzanne Campbell (ON), Victoria Horobin (ON), Karen Lutz (BC), Carol Jones (BC) and Heather Robert­son-Corrigan (NS) selected the winners based on recommendations from the applicants' supervisors as well as their creative solutions to a design challenge. This year's design challenge, from Gas Station to Work Station, had applicants repurpose abandoned gas stations into hubs that cater to today's mobile, high-tech worker.

"Repurposing old or abandoned buildings can help preserve our architectural heritage by finding new practical functions for under-used spaces," says judge Suzanne Campbell. "As interior designers, we are increasingly called upon to make something new out of something old. The winning projects do an excellent job of responding to the needs of today's workers while respecting the original space."

"These five winners are the ones to watch," says fellow judge Victoria Horobin. "They are the top of their class in ingenuity and creativity. In addition, they all came highly recommended by well-respected professionals in the industry."

The Top 5 Under 5 received a trip to IIDEX Canada in Toronto, where they were each presented with a specially commissioned sculpture by Canadian artist Tim Forbes.

"Maria brings fresh and original ideas to the table," said Mitschke. "She is thoughtful and creative in her work and often exceeds expectations."

For her design challenge, Maria took her inspiration from the disused gas station. The layout of the office space mirrors the layout of a car and colourful furniture is reminiscent of gasoline spills.

"I imagined a gas station where everything had been removed. What would be left? Oil stains, maybe some old tires ... I looked to these elements for my inspiration."

When asked what she thinks the future of interior design in Canada looks like, she said, "The future is bright. The students coming out of school now are really well prepared, technically and creatively. There is a lot of potential."